LCS announces closing of Maple Grove Elementary at end of 2011-12 year, repurposing of Turrill

The Lapeer Community Schools Board of Education, at its regular meeting on March 1, voted to close Maple Grove Elementary School at the end of the 2011-12 school year.

LCS Superintendent Matt Wandrie was directed by the Board on Feb. 2 to present a recommendation for a second elementary closure at the Feb. 16 work session meeting. The Board had previously voted to close Seaton Elementary school at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

The decision to close Maple Grove is just one component of a comprehensive district-wide restructuring plan.

Wandrie commended the Board for its willingness to make the tough decisions today that are necessary to put the District on a sustainable path for the future.

“We all recognize the difficulties that accompany any transition, but we are not going to shy away from doing what is necessary to better serve the students of Lapeer Community Schools,” Wandrie said. “Everyone connected to the District is going to share in the sacrifices necessary to keep us moving in the right direction.”

The Board also approved the repurposing of Turrill Elementary as a Year-Round Elementary School. Parents will receive applications for entry into the school on Monday. The school will operate on a balanced academic calendar with shorter but more frequent breaks.

Are you basing the new boundary lines on the response to the year-round school applications? If so, how would this effect people moving into the district later? Will they have a choice and would busing be provided? Also, this redistricting will be the final one, correct? Or, should we expect our children to be uprooted every year or so?